ROAD TEST REPORT

MEMBER SERVICES

By Bob Hudson MIAME Vehicle Evaluation Engineer August
National Roads and Motorists Association Limited

ABN 010 506

No. 628

trading as

NRMA Member Services

FEBRUARY 2002

PEUGEOT 607 Sedan

3.0-Litre Automatic

FEATURES BEST
Smooth, quiet performance Comprehensive equipment levels Stylish appearance Powerful braking Good interior and luggage space
Suspension not as compliant as expected Seats lack good lateral support Brake dust soils wheels and body sides sedan is the 330i and its priced at $90,700. Mercedes-Benz doesnt have a 3.0 litre sedan. The 607 is a well-proportioned, good-looking sedan with a distinctive Peugeot flair in its lines. Good protection against parking scrapes is provided by bump strips along the body sides and on the ends of the bumpers. The interior is nicely trimmed in plush leather and the ambience is suitably luxurious. Finish on the test car looked to be of a high order, with no apparent blemishes. Occupants are comfortably seated, though the front seats could do with more lateral support to prevent slipping about when cornering. Leg space is generally good, as is headroom in the front. But the steeply sloping roof compromises rear headroom. The boot compartment isnt all that deep, but it is quite long. For those extra long items, theres a porthole, or the option of folding one third or two thirds of the seat backrest. The 607s 3.0 litre quad cam V6 engine is a delightful unit providing a smooth and effortless performance. Unfortunately, the engine is let down somewhat by the automatic transmission. Though it boasts electronic control and adaptive operation, its slow to change down at times when left in Normal mode. Selecting Sport mode does liven up its response. Relatively large front wheel drive cars arent always renowned for their good chassis balance, but the 607 has generally very capable and stable handling. However, its steering is not as sharp or precise as dynamic pacesetters such as the rearwheel drive 3-series BMW. The other dynamic disappointment with the 607 is its ride quality. Peugeot has built a reputation for having superior ride and handling qualities in its cars, so the 607s harsh ride over sharp bumps comes as a surprise, particularly in this luxury segment. Braking is superb. Emergency stops are achieved in very short distances and resistance to fade under hard usage is excellent. The only downside to the braking is the propensity to spread unsightly brake dust along the lower body sides and on the wheel rims. SUMMARY: The new Peugeot 607 is a refined, handsome looking sedan with all the luxury and safety features expected of a car in its segment. Though some aspects of the 607s chassis dynamics and transmission operation may not please driving enthusiasts, most buyers should be well satisfied with the way the 607 drives, looks and feels.
As the flagship of the Peugeot range, the 607 sedan features a remarkable array of technology that the company says is designed to ensure that driving is as safe, comfortable and effortless as it can be. Passive safety is well handled by the 607s larger-than-normal front airbags, its side chest airbags in the front seats, and curtain airbags to protect the heads of front and rear passengers. Front seat belts have pre-tensioners, and front and rear belts feature force-limiters. On the issue of dynamic safety, the 607 has electronic stability control which combines with the anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and traction control to steady the vehicle by varying braking and/or engine power. The suspension also features electronically variable damping, with nine different settings, or the suspension can be locked in Sports mode. Under the bonnet is a high-tech quad cam, allalloy 3.0 litre V6 engine with variable intake timing. This engine produces 152 kW, which happens to be the same figure as produced by Holdens 3.8 litre V6 engine. The four-speed automatic (theres no manual version) is electronically controlled and features adaptive operation, Sports and Snow modes, plus a sequential-style shift for drivers who like to change manually. The 607 has all the usual luxury items such as climate control air conditioning, power operation of just about everything possible (including the front seats), plush leather trim and a premium sound system with six-pack CD changer, plus a myriad of other features designed to make driving safer and more convenient. For example, the 607 turns its headlamps on in low light conditions, the wipers switch on automatically when it rains and theres a warning to the driver in the event of a loss in tyre pressure. The glove box is air-conditioned, the exterior mirrors tilt down when reversing, the interior mirror dips when sensing glare and the hazard lights activate under emergency braking. All this technology, safety and luxury costs money and the 607 comes to market at $79,990, not including dealer or statutory charges. While that might represent a big ask to people that buy something rather more mundane such as a Toyota Camry with the same size and type of engine, the 607 is competitive with other luxury sedans of similar size and engine capacity. These include the Alfa Romeo 166, Audi A6, Jaguar X-type Sport, Lexus ES300, Saab 9-5 Griffin and Volvo S80. BMWs cheapest 3.0 litre

SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE: Type.. V6, quad cam, 24 valves Capacity in litres.. 2.946 Induction..Multi-point fuel injection Fuel recommendation.. PULP Claimed max. power. 152 kW at 6000 rpm Claimed max. torque. 284 Nm at 3750 rpm Specific power output..51.6 kW/litre TRANSMISSION: Type.Four speed adaptive automatic Driving wheels.. Front Speed per 1000 rpm in top gear. 42.4 km/h WHEELS:.Alloy, 7.5J x 17 inch TYRES:.Michelin Pilot 225/50 R17 Spare:.. Matching size and type STEERING: Type.. Power assisted rack and pinion Turns lock to lock.. 3.3 Turning circle (measured).11.4 metres DIMENSIONS: Mass... 1580 kg Length... 4871 mm Width (incl. mirrors 2090 mm). 1835 mm Height.. 1460 mm Ground clearance (measured). 118 mm Seating capacity.. 5 Fuel tank capacity. 80 litres TOWING: Max. towed mass (trailer plus load). 1800 kg Max. towball download (laden trailer). 72 kg NRMA THEFT RATING: Points on 0-110 scale (high score best). 72 WARRANTY:. Two years, unlimited km MANUFACTURED IN:.. France

TEST RESULTS

ACCELERATION: 50 - 80 km/h (in Drive).. 4.6 sec 60 -100 km/h (in Drive). 6.1 sec 0 - 80 km/h.. 7.4 sec 0 - 100 km/h.. 10.4 sec 0 - 400 metres.. 17.3 sec FUEL CONSUMPTION: Litres/100 km in city.. 12.3 Litres/100 km on highway. 9.5 Litres/100 km overall. 10.4 BRAKING: Distance to stop from 80 km/h.25.2 metres NOISE: Interior at constant 80 km/h. 66 dB(A)
Test vehicle supplied by Peugeot Automobiles Australia
Call NRMA Automotive Technical Services on 443, should you require additional information on this vehicle, on other makes, or for general advice on automotive matters.